COVID-19: NGO calls for more testing centres, PPE for security agents
A non-governmental organization, Cleen Foundation, has urged the federal government to establish more testing centres and provide personal protective equipment for security agents across the country.
Executive Director of the foundation, Mr. Benson Olugbuo, made the appeal in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
He called for synergy between the federal and state governments.
Olugbuo said that in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, a collective and coordinated action was required by all citizens with the support of government at all levels.
“There is need to synergise and constantly review developments across the country as the federal government plans a gradual relaxation of the restriction of movement imposed few weeks ago.
“The federal government and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) should work toward activating more testing centres across Nigeria and embark on aggressive testing of citizens.
“It should also intensify COVID-19 awareness in local communities by sensitising the people about the seriousness of the virus and the dangers of shielding infected persons.
“The Presidential Task Force (PTF) should prioritise the provision of personal protective equipment for security agents as promised by the President during the recent national broadcast,” he said.
Olugbuo noted that the need for personal protective equipment for security agents was borne out of reports across the country that only a few security personnel wear personal protective equipment, while enforcing government directives.
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He said that this was a contributing factor to non-compliance by citizens with the government’s directives on personal preventive and protective measures against COVID-19.
He said the need to provide personal protective equipment for security agents could not be over-emphasised.
Olugbuo advised the federal government to prioritise the distribution of face masks as a first line of defence against the pandemic for its citizens.
He however, appealed to the presidential task force to address the alleged imbalance in the distribution of palliatives across the country.
